Hard Eight

Paul Thomas Anderson’s first feature film, Hard Eight, follows Sydney, a professional gambler who decides to take on John, a penniless stranger, as his young disciple in the world of casinos. With his guidance, the apprentice begins to master the tricks that soon turn him into a successful gambler. The plot thickens when John falls in love with Clementine, a cocktail waitress and occasional prostitute. A discreet yet powerful debut, this downbeat neo-noir stars Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly and Gwyneth Paltrow, and also features turns from Samuel L. Jackson and Philip Seymour Hoffman.